Meet Sarah Smithers, LMSW
Therapist for Women and College Students in Lansing, MI
You’re already stronger than you think.
There may have been a time when anxiety didn’t feel constant. When relationships didn’t feel so confusing, or when you weren’t second-guessing yourself at every turn. If those days feel distant right now, change is still possible. The goal isn’t to become someone different. It’s to create space to reconnect with yourself in a way that feels steady, grounded, and genuine.
If you can relate to this, You’ve come to the right place.
I’m Here to Help You Find Confidence, Happiness, and a Deeper Sense of Fulfillment.
That doesn’t mean becoming someone entirely different. Confidence can look like trusting your instincts instead of constantly second-guessing yourself. It might mean setting boundaries without overwhelming guilt, speaking up without fear, or navigating relationships from a place of steadiness instead of anxiety. Happiness becomes less about chasing perfection and more about feeling present and at ease in your own decisions. Fulfillment grows when your life starts to reflect your values, not just everyone else’s expectations.
I work with women and college students who already carry strength within them, even if it feels buried under anxiety, trauma, or years of putting themselves last. Together, we slow things down and begin to understand what’s been keeping you stuck. From there, we build the awareness and practical skills that help you move forward with greater clarity and self-trust.
This work isn’t about perfection. It’s about feeling grounded, capable, and more at home in your own life.
Why I Do This Work
I believe people already have the capacity to heal. Sometimes that capacity just gets buried under stress, trauma, self-doubt, or years of putting everyone else first. When you’ve been in survival mode for a long time, it can be hard to remember what it feels like to be steady in yourself. There is something deeply meaningful to me about witnessing that shift in therapy. Watching someone walk in feeling overwhelmed or weighed down, and over time begin to feel lighter, clearer, and more grounded; that’s why I do this work. Those moments when things start to feel more manageable, when self-trust begins to rebuild, are powerful.
Anxiety, complicated relationship dynamics, and trauma are not abstract concepts to me. I understand how consuming anxiety can feel, and I know how confusing and destabilizing unhealthy relational patterns can become. I’ve experienced my own struggles with anxiety and relational challenges, and those experiences shaped my path into this profession. They also deepened my commitment to creating a space where people feel genuinely understood.
When we work together, you won’t just have a trained therapist. You’ll have someone who listens carefully, takes your experiences seriously, and believes that meaningful change is possible, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
Therapy with me is collaborative, steady, and tailored specifically to you and your needs.
There are many one-size-fits-all approaches to anxiety, trauma, and relationship challenges. However, I don’t practice that way. Your story, your patterns, and your nervous system are unique. Our work reflects that. First, we explore your history, thought patterns, and relationship dynamics with curiosity, not judgment. Then we focus on building tools that support real-life change. This can include clearer communication, healthier boundaries, stronger emotional regulation, and learning how to respond to old thought patterns in new ways that feel steadier and more aligned.
My goal isn’t just symptom relief. It’s helping you develop self-trust, confidence, and the ability to navigate life with more clarity and stability. You remain in control of the pace. We move toward growth in a way that feels sustainable, not rushed.
My Therapeutic Style
My work is grounded in a Person-Centered approach and integrates:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Solution-Focused Therapy
Mindfulness-based practices
I also have training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and continue expanding my knowledge in somatic therapy. While these approaches inform my work, therapy with me isn’t about following a script or relying only on techniques. What matters most is creating a space that feels steady, honest, and safe enough for you to actually be yourself.
I see therapy as supporting the whole person. For some people, spirituality is part of that. If your faith or spiritual life is important to you, we can make space for it in a way that feels natural and meaningful. If it’s not something you want to bring into therapy, that’s completely okay. Our work is always shaped around what feels right for you.
The Principles that Guide My Work Are:
Growth
Developing skills, awareness, and responses that increase overall well-being.
Trust
Building secure, healthy connections; including with yourself.
Transparency
Honest, respectful communication in both directions.
Safety
Feeling accepted and supported as you are.
Training & Professional Background
Master’s Degree in Social Work, Western Michigan University
Clinically Licensed in Michigan
3 Years in Private Practice
3 Years in Crisis Counseling, specializing in narcissistic and sexual abuse
Ongoing training in CBT, CPT, ACT, and mindfulness
I remain committed to continued education so I can offer you thoughtful, evidence-based care.
A Little More About Me
Outside of the therapy room, I’m a proud Yooper. Being from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is something I carry with pride, and if you listen closely, you might catch a hint of that accent. Figure skating shaped much of my early life, and the discipline and resilience it taught me still influences who I am today. These days, I recharge by being outdoors: downhill skiing, camping, kayaking, and spending time in nature help me reset. I’m also slightly obsessed with Pomeranians.
Being outdoors reminds me that growth is gradual. It’s seasonal. It doesn’t happen all at once. That perspective shapes how I approach therapy. Healing isn’t rushed; it unfolds in its own time.
If you’re ready to begin, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.